Raising the bar: How Indian whisky brands are making a splash in West

Whisky consumption in India is set to reach 289.49 million cases by 2027-28, according to a Research and Markets report

In 2006, connoisseurs at whisky exhibitions around the world caught a whiff of a mysterious new liquor whose name and provenance were unknown. It’s the moment when Amrut, the first Indian single malt, was finally having its place in the sun — two years after its launch in Glasgow, Scotland.

“Launching it was not easy, because India was known for making molasses- or flavour-based liquids. The moment we said we were from India, there was resistance,” says Vikram Nikam, joint managing director at the Benglauru-based Amrut Distilleries.

So, they decided to showcase the product at exhibitions, inviting people to sample